I don't like Thursdays: Chelsea's John Obi Mikel sick of Europa League and desperate for Champions League return
I don't like Thursdays: Chelsea's John Obi Mikel sick of Europa League and desperate for Champions League return
"No disrespect to the Europa League but when you hear the
Champions League song, it’s different. I don’t even know the Europa
League song"
Second best: Mikel wins a header against Steaua Bucharest in Europa League
AP
John Obi Mikel has admitted he is fed-up with having to play on
Thursday nights and insisted Chelsea must be “prime time” next season. The Blues
travel to Moscow this week to play Rubin Kazan on Thursday in the
second leg of their Europa League quarter-final, but it is clear that
midfielder Mikel sees the competition as a consolation prize.
That game, where the Londoners will be protecting a 3-1 first-leg lead, will be Chelsea’s 58th game of a gruelling season.
They
are still in the hunt for an FA Cup and Europa League double, but Mikel
says finishing in the Premier League's top four must be the priority.
Mikel confessed even hearing the pre-match Champions League music on televised games has been painful this season for a squad that lifted the European Cup last May.
“I
have been watching the Champions League games this week,” said Mikel.
“It has been kind of frustrating to watch them and see them play.
“And we have to then play on Thursday night. What do they say? 'Thursday nights, Channel 5?'
“Hopefully next season we are not going to be in it. We are going to be prime time.
“No disrespect to the Europa League but when you get that buzz, and you hear the Champions League song, it’s different.
“And
we have been used to it, to those nights, those special nights, and we
want to get them back - we want to be involved again in the Champions
League next season.
“I don’t even know the Europa League song... I
have been here [at Chelsea] seven years and I have never played
football on Thursday nights.
“I think for us and the fans,
Champions League football is what this club has always been involved in,
and that is what we as players, want to achieve.
“We want to be in the top four, top three, whatever. We want to be in the Champions League next season.”
It
is clear that Mikel pays so little attention to the Europa League these
days that he has failed to notice that coverage has switched from
Channel 5 to ITV and ESPN.
But he stressed that they are
out to win the Europa League - but also wants to get back into the big
time next season after last year’s Champions League glory.
“I
think there is a chance for silverware,” said Mikel. “We have to keep
going the way we are. And then hopefully we are in the FA Cup
semi-finals and now in the Europa League. Simply the best: Celebrating Chelsea's European Cup Final triumph last May
Alex Livesey
“We just have to keep doing what we are doing and keep
playing the way we are playing, and hopefully if we could get a piece of
silverware this season we will be very pleased with ourselves.”
But
while Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez rests and rotates to keep the club in
with a chance of that double, Mikel made it clear that finishing top
four is what is driving him on.
Mikel says it is the
hardest season of their lives - they could end up hitting the 70-match
mark if they win Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City and
go all the way in the Europa League - but says they are desperate to
finish above Arsenal and Spurs.
He added: “This season is harder
even than last year when we won the Champions League, especially in the
Europa League, there are more games.
“I have been here seven
years, we have always played Champions League games, but it’s very hard
this season. We are still in the Cup, the Europa League and then in the
league we are still fighting for the top four.
“It’s very hard but
we have to keep going and believing in what we can do. And hopefully we
will have a very good end of the season.
“Spurs have put
themselves right in there, Arsenal won on Saturday, so for us we have to
keep playing, believe in what we can do, and focus on ourselves, and
don’t think about what the other teams are doing.
“But with Spurs and Arsenal, it always changes. So we have to keep doing what we are doing and focus on ourselves.
“The battle for the top four has always been tough. We knew it was going to be tough, coming to the business end of the season.
“But
we have to keep going and playing the way we are playing, and
hopefully, if we keep getting results like this now, because towards the
end of the season, all you need is just to get a few points.”
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